Elder Law Questions to Address With Your Parents

As your parents age, you may want to step in to ensure that they’ve addressed all of the most important elder law questions and concerns. You don’t want to overstep, but at the same time a nudge in the right direction can go a long way in putting them in better position as the years go by.

Here are three of the most important elder law questions to address with your parents:

Do you have a long-term care plan in place? This encompasses many details, ranging from long-term care insurance to choosing a nursing home (should it be necessary in the future). Both you and your parents hope that they never require any form of long-term care, but you never know what the future will bring.

Do you qualify for Medicaid? It’s important to address this question as soon as possible, as your parent(s) may be missing out on government benefits. Even if they don’t qualify for Medicaid right now, there are planning steps you can take to help them receive this benefit in the future.

Do you qualify for veteran’s benefits? If one or both of your parents is a veteran, there are a variety of government benefits to look into. From health care to disability to education, don’t neglect to dig around and learn more about the programs that are available.

Along with the above, there’s something you need to think about: your ability to care for your parent or parents in the future.

“The job of caring for someone with a physical or mental disability, such as Alzheimer’s disease, is one of the biggest challenges you will ever face. In addition to juggling your own schedule, you are constantly on call, making sure your loved one’s needs are met. In general, caregivers are concerned about ensuring their loved one is properly cared for and receiving the best medical treatment, all without spending down their life savings.”

As you can imagine, there’s nothing simple about providing your loved ones with care as they age. Even if you have enough time and the best intentions, you’re sure to run into challenges and frustrations every now and again.

Final Thoughts

As you address these elder law questions and concerns with your parents, pay close attention to anything you can do right now to help the situation.

Furthermore, don’t hesitate to contact an elder law lawyer to provide you with guidance. At our law firm, we’re more than happy to step in during this time to answer your questions and help put your parents in the best situation possible. Once you contact us, you’ll feel much better about the future.

Mr. Roger Levine’s law practice is focused in the areas of Estate Planning and Tax Law. Mr. Levine has gained a reputation as a dynamic and entertaining speaker in the Tax and Estate Planning areas and has spoken before numerous legal and accounting professional societies and private organizations. He has appeared on various radio shows and was featured on the Cable TV show “Your Money Matters,” shown throughout New Jersey.